Lead Instructor/Trainer (National Security)

TRM Labs • Full-time • Washington DC • 3w ago

Build to Protect Civilization

TRM is a blockchain intelligence company that’s on a mission to build a safer financial system for billions of people. We’re a lean, high-impact team tackling some of the world’s most critical challenges, ranging from human trafficking and financial fraud to terrorist financing. We are builders who power governments, financial institutions, and crypto companies when the clock is running and the consequences are real. This is why every TRMer is a bet on our future and has the power to change our trajectory.

About the Position

TRM Academy delivers a personalized learning platform where anyone, anywhere can learn at their own pace how to detect and prevent fraud and financial crime involving cryptocurrencies. It is a global community of Learners including the world’s experts in blockchain, crypto compliance, and financial crime investigations. Learners get access to personalized courses, instructional videos, practice exercises, exclusive events, and more.

As a member of the Training Team at TRM, you will be responsible for facilitating the rapid upskill required to educate and empower people to protect the blockchain ecosystem. Our team is made up of master instructors — professionals who can command a room, build engaging content, and teach to every level of expertise. We know how our products are used in the real world and help our customers become humble masters too.

This role is ideal for someone with a national security, intelligence, defense, foreign policy, or law enforcement background who is energized by teaching others, building training programs, and supporting mission outcomes. You will translate complex blockchain intelligence into clear, actionable instruction — from foundational training for new analysts to briefings for senior decision-makers.

You will maintain credibility as a practitioner by conducting ad hoc investigations and staying proficient in evolving crypto-related threats. You’ll collaborate with TRM’s blockchain intelligence experts, engineers, and data scientists to deliver cutting-edge support and training to TRM’s clients and partners.

Clearance strongly preferred (TS/SCI ideal). Travel primarily in the DMV (50–75%).

The impact you'll have here:

Instruction & Enablement (Core)

Program-manage and conduct live and virtual training to a global community of learners, including public sector and national security audiences
Produce insightful learning modules and deliver them in writing, mixed media, and in-person briefings to TRM's customers
Design and deliver interactive instruction (workshops, scenario-based exercises, and hands-on labs) that teaches Learners how to operationalize blockchain intelligence
Develop and maintain TRM Academy curriculum, ensuring materials are always up to date, succinct, and leverage the best teaching tools available
Create and iterate on assessments (quizzes, capstone exercises, practical investigation labs) that validate proficiency and strengthen learner outcomes
Translate emerging threats and real-world learnings into updated training scenarios, playbooks, and course content

Stakeholder Engagement

Proactively identify, build, and manage relationships with industry and public sector partners to add new Learners to the TRM Academy cadre
Build trust with mission-driven stakeholders by tailoring training to their needs, constraints, and operating environments — including information sensitivity and operational tempo

Practitioner Credibility

Investigate complex cases involving phishing, blockchain exploits, hacks, terrorism finance, account takeovers (ATOs), money laundering, SIM swaps, ransomware, sanctions evasion, and other activity associated with illicit use of blockchain technology
Maintain a working proficiency in conducting on-chain investigations, illicit activity in cryptocurrency, and money laundering typologies
Conduct time-sensitive blockchain analysis for partners and contribute to solutions that allow TRM to scale rapidly and effectively

Travel Requirement

This role requires travel of 50–75%, primarily within the Washington, DC / Maryland / Virginia (DMV) area, with occasional domestic travel beyond the region.

What we're looking for:

Must-have

3–5+ years of experience leading trainings, technical instruction, investigations enablement, or operational briefings
Strong teaching presence — ability to command the room, build rapport quickly, and adapt instruction to different levels of expertise (analyst → senior leadership)
Excellent oral and written communication skills; able to explain complex concepts clearly and credibly
Experience building coursework, curriculum, and appropriate testing / assessment
Blockchain, cryptocurrency, or digital assets subject matter expertise or demonstrated ability to master and teach complex technical topics quickly
High ownership, strong judgment, and comfort operating in high-stakes environments where time and clarity matter

Clearance (Strongly Preferred)

Active U.S. security clearance is strongly preferred. Candidates must be eligible and willing to obtain and maintain a clearance.
Clearance level varies by customer need; TS/SCI is highly preferred.
Comfortable operating in environments with varying levels of information sensitivity and tailoring instruction appropriately

Strongly preferred (NatSec alignment)

Experience in national security environments: DoD, IC, DHS, DOJ, State, Treasury, law enforcement, or defense/IC contracting
Experience briefing or enabling stakeholders across interagency and international partner contexts
Familiarity with sanctions evasion, threat finance networks, illicit procurement, transnational organized crime, or related mission sets
Experience building training for operational teams (not solely academic/classroom instruction)

Life at TRM

We build to protect civilization. That promise shows up in how we work every day.

TRM runs fast. Really fast. We’re a high-velocity team that expects ownership, clarity, and follow-through. People who thrive here are inspired by hard problems, experimentation, direct feedback. If it takes months elsewhere, it often ships here in days. If you are optimizing primarily for consistent work-life balance, use the interview process to pressure-test fit. We want teammates who thrive here, not just survive here.

We coach directly, assume positive intent, and play for the front of the jersey.

Leadership Principles

Impact-Oriented Trailblazer: We put customers first, driving for speed, focus, and adaptability.
Master Craftsperson: We prioritize speed, high standards, and distributed ownership.
Inspiring Colleague: We value humility, candor, and a one-team mindset.

Want to learn more about how we interview at TRM Labs? Check out more about our leadership principles and hiring process here.

What You’ll Do Here

This work has teeth. At TRM, your week might include:

Driving critical investigations that can’t wait for typical business hours.
Shipping products in days when others would schedule quarters.
Partnering with teams across time zones to deliver insights while the story is still unfolding.
Building new solutions from first principles when the playbook doesn’t yet exist.
Protecting victims and customers by tracing illicit activity and disrupting criminal networks.

Join our Mission

We look for people who want their work to matter, who build with speed and rigor, and who take pride in protecting others through their craft. If you’re excited by TRM’s mission but don’t check every box, apply anyway. We hire for slope, judgment, and the will to learn fast.

Build to protect civilization. Let’s do it together.

Recruitment agencies

TRM Labs does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to TRM employees. TRM Labs is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes and will not pay fees to any third-party agency or company without a signed agreement.

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